Orlando's BEST Family Vacation? Orange Lake Resort's Holiday Inn Club Secret!
Orlando's Unofficial BEST Family Vacation? Orange Lake Resort's Holiday Inn Club Secret! (A Messy, Honest Review)
Okay, folks, buckle up. Because finding that "BEST" family vacation? It's harder than trying to wrangle a toddler and a bag of goldfish crackers at the same time. But I think, think, I might have stumbled upon a gem, a hidden… secret? (Get it? Holiday Inn Club Secret??) at Orange Lake Resort. This review isn't going to be some sanitized, corporate brochure. It's going to be REAL. Prepare yourselves for a glorious, messy, and hopefully helpful breakdown.
First, the Disclaimers (Because Let's Be Real):
- I'm not getting paid for this. Just a weary parent trying to share some sanity-saving intel.
- My expectations are low. I've traveled with kids. "Relaxation" is a concept reserved for therapists.
- This is about the Holiday Inn Club Secret area (apparently, Orange Lake is HUGE). Different areas might have different vibes. So, keep that in mind!
The Good Stuff (Where Orange Lake Actually Shines)
Let's just dive in. Because this is where Orange Lake actually makes a good case for itself.
Accessibility: (This is a BIG one!)
- Wheelchair Accessible & Facilities for Disabled Guests: HUGE thumbs up! My MIL has mobility issues, and this was a game-changer. Elevators galore, ramps everywhere, and the staff was genuinely helpful. It's like they actually thought about accessibility, which is rare and beautiful. Access to the resort was seamless.
Things to Do (Because, Kids):
- Swimming Pools (Outdoor): Oh. My. Goodness. I think there are like, a BILLION pools. Okay, maybe not a billion, but a ridiculous amount. And they're all DIFFERENT. Big ones, small ones, ones with slides (!!!!), ones with lazy rivers. My kids were permanently waterlogged and gleefully exhausted. It was a parenting miracle. (And, yes, I saw them cleaning them daily. Very reassuring for germaphobes like myself).
- Fitness Center, Gym/Fitness: I didn't actually use these. The thought of hitting the gym while on vacation with kids fills me with existential dread. But they WERE there, and they looked decent. Hey, I respect the hustle of wanting to maintain some level of fitness amidst the chaos.
- Kids Facilities & For the Kids: This is where Orange Lake does AMAZING, the Kids facilities were not just okay. They provided the kids with a lot of fun that's perfect, keeping that in mind there are plenty of activities inside and outside the resort in a very safe and secure area, with plenty of supervision and a lot of staff that are very friendly and are very helpful.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (The Fuel for Survival):
- Restaurants, Poolside Bar & Snack Bar Okay, I'm not going to lie, the food isn't Michelin-star quality. But it's… sufficient. And, crucially, there are options. Variety is the spice of life (and keeps kids from screaming). The Poolside bar was a lifesaver for quick snacks (and the occasional adult beverage to ward off the crazy).
- Coffee Shop. Ah, coffee. My love language. Essential condiments to start the day.
- Breakfast Takeaway Service. Grab-and-go breakfasts were a lifesaver for those early-morning park adventures.
Services and Conveniences (The Little Things That Matter):
- Daily Housekeeping: Hallelujah! Seriously, after a day of kid-induced mayhem, coming back to a clean room is pure bliss.
- Convenience Store: Stocking up on snacks, drinks, and the occasional forgotten essential (like, uh, diapers) was super easy.
- Concierge: Helpful for booking park tickets or figuring out which pool is the least crowded (a true science).
Available in All Rooms (The Essentials):
- Air Conditioning: YES. Florida in the summer is a sweaty beast.
- Wi-Fi [Free]: Huge win! My kids were glued to their devices. I was glued to my phone for work. Everyone was happy-ish.
- Refrigerator & Coffee/Tea Maker: Essential for stashing groceries and keeping the caffeine flowing.
- Microwave, Refrigerator, and Coffee/Tea Maker: Essential for stashing leftovers and keeping the caffeine flowing.
Now for the REAL Talk (The Imperfections and the Moments of Truth)
Let's be honest, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. There were some bumps in the road, and I'm going to spill the tea, imperfections, and everything in between.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking:
- Food! The food at the restaurants, while convenient, was a bit… generic. Think "family-friendly" meaning "bland enough not to offend anyone." But hey, no one starved.
- Breakfast: The breakfast buffet was standard. There were breakfast takeaway options, which was useful, but I wish there were more healthy options.
Internet Access (A Necessary Evil):
- Wi-Fi in Public Areas vs. Free Wi-Fi in All Rooms?: Both? Look, the Wi-Fi was… adequate. It got the job done, but don't expect lightning-fast speeds. It's good enough to check emails, but I wouldn't be planning any major Zoom calls from the pool.
Cleanliness and Safety:
- Hand Sanitizer & Staff Trained in Safety Protocol: I appreciated the extra steps they took to make it feel safer.
- Room Sanitization Opt-out Available: I appreciate the option to opt out. I never opted out, but it's an option.
Services and Conveniences:
- Luggage Storage: A nice touch, especially on check-in/check-out days.
- Cash Withdrawal: Convenient, especially for those little necessities.
Things to Do (Beyond the Pools):
- Getting Around: While the resort has a lot of things to do, you're still going to need a car to get to the parks.
- Car Park [Free of Charge]: This is a MUST-HAVE, so many hotels charge for parking. This is very helpful
The Quirks and the Rambles
- The Room: Let's talk about the room. It was spacious, thank goodness. With kids, you need space. It had a separate bedroom (hallelujah!) and a kitchenette (bonus!). It wasn't exactly "luxury," but it was clean and comfortable. I'd describe it as "functional family-friendly," but the little things like having a separate room, kitchen, and balconies were an absolute plus.
- The Staff: The staff was generally friendly and helpful, although sometimes a little… overwhelmed. Hey, it's a huge resort! Cut them some slack.
- The Overall Vibe: It's… busy. Like, REALLY busy. It's a sprawling complex, so be prepared for a bit of walking. But honestly, the kids loved it. The chaos was almost part of the fun.
The "Secret" I Promised to Reveal
The "Secret" about Orange Lake? It's not a hidden paradise. It's a well-oiled machine designed for family vacations. And, for the most part, it works.
My Verdict:
Would I go back? YES. Especially if you have young kids. It's a perfect blend of convenience, entertainment, and enough space to survive a family vacation with your sanity (mostly) intact.
The Call to Action (Because I'm Selling You on This Now):
Stop Searching, Start Relaxing:
Are you ready to ditch the stress and create unforgettable family memories? Look no further than Orange Lake Resort's Holiday Inn Club Secret! This isn't just a hotel; it's a portal to a world of splash-tastic fun, convenient dining, and spacious comfort.
Here's Why You Should Book RIGHT NOW:
- Unrivaled Pool Fun: From thrilling waterslides to relaxing lazy rivers, your kids will be begging to stay longer!
- Stress-Free Accessibility: Enjoy peace of mind knowing that the accommodations are friendly to your whole family.
- Family-Friendly Dining Options: Satisfy those hungry tummies with a variety of restaurants.
- Spacious Accommodations with kitchenettes: Spread out and feel at home in generously sized rooms.
- Free Wi-Fi: Stay connected (or disconnect, your choice!)
Limited-Time Exclusive Offer:
To sweeten the deal, we're offering a special discount for families booking in the next week! [Insert some kind of deal here, like a discount on a specific unit, a free meal, or a bonus activity pass]
Don't let this opportunity slip away! Book your ultimate family getaway to Orange Lake Resort's Holiday Inn Club Secret today! Click the link below to reserve your spot or call us now!
[Insert booking link or phone number here]
P.S. Pack the sunscreen. You're going to need it. And maybe ear
Escape to Paradise: White Sands Negril's Unforgettable Jamaica Getaway
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into my absolutely bonkers itinerary for a week at Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort in Orlando. And trust me, this isn't your sanitized, brochure-perfect trip. This is the real, messy, sunburnt, possibly-crying version of holiday bliss.
Day 1: Arrival - Paradise Found (or at least, Found a Really Big Pool)
- 1:00 PM: ARRIVAL. Finally! After a flight that felt like I was trapped in a metal tube with a toddler who'd discovered the ultimate weapon: screaming. Bless the airline, bless the earplugs. Checked in (smoothly, surprisingly) and got our villa. OMG, it's HUGE. Like, you could lose a small child in here. Good thing I don't have any… yet.
- 1:30 PM: Unpacking (attempted). Mostly involved me throwing clothes haphazardly onto various surfaces. Priority one: find the damn swimsuit. Priority two: find the emergency snacks.
- 2:30 PM: Pool Reconnaissance. Holy. Mother. Of. Pools. Orange Lake has more pools than I have brain cells on a Monday morning. I did a quick survey, trying to decide which one I could realistically claim as my own. Settled on the Lazy River… I mean, come ON. It's in the name. This is my people!
- 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Lazing around the lazy river, with a margarita in hand. This is the perfection I booked this trip for. I'm talking floatie, the sun is beating down, and the world's problems seem to melt away. The only minor hiccup: I lost a flip-flop. The current took it. ( RIP you beautiful thing.)
- 6:30 PM: Dinner at the resort's pub. Pretty standard, but the beer was cold. The food was edible. The company (my family) was… well, they were there. That counts, right?
- 7:30 PM: Stargazing. The stars were brilliant tonight, I mean I was a little buzzed, but still.
Day 2: The Alligator Adventure (and My Near-Death Experience?)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. The buffet. The buffet. The glorious, carb-laden buffet! I strategically avoided the "healthy" options, obviously.
- 10:00 AM: Alligator Encounter! Took a boat tour of the lake. I'm not going to lie, I was a little nervous about the whole alligator situation. It's not every day you're dangling your toes in the territory of giant, toothy reptiles. But, hey, I conquered my fear! (Until I saw a REALLY BIG one. Then I might have shrieked a little.)
- 11:30 AM Walked to the resort's beach. So, the "beach" is a man-made lake beach… Okay, it's not the ocean, but the sand was still kinda nice under my feet, and there were palm trees so… whatever.
- 12:30 PM My family insisted on "water sports." Me? I like to sunbathe. I was "persuaded" to go tubing behind a boat. Terrifying. But, I didn't fall off.
- 2:00 PM: Lunch. (Burger and fries. Because vacation.)
- 3:00 PM: Swimming (again, in a pool, not a gator infested lake)
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. This time we cooked in the villa. I am NOT a cook. Burned the garlic bread. Ate the pizza. Cried a little.
- 7:30 PM: Mini golf. Surprisingly, I wasn't terrible. Or maybe everyone else was just worse. Either way, I claimed victory.
Day 3: Rest and Relaxation (Attempted)
- 9:00 AM: Sleep in. (Glorious!) Then the kids decided to wake me by banging on the door at 8.
- 10:00 AM: Went to the spa. My stressed-out soul needed this. Got a massage, and it was amazing. For about 30 minutes. Then the masseuse kept talking. I'm now less relaxed.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. (Sandwiches. Because there were leftovers.)
- 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM: The Great Pool Hunt. We went pool-hopping, trying to find the perfect pool. We ended up spending at least half an hour just looking for the next pool!
- 5:00 PM: Drinks by the pool. (Redemption!)
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant. (I don't remember much about dinner…)
- 8:30 PM: I fell asleep on the couch.
Day 4: Orlando Chaos (Theme Park Fiasco)
- 8:00 AM: Wake up, full of energy. Okay, not really. Forced myself out of bed for theme park day.
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. (The resort has a good, quick breakfast sandwiches.
- 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM: THEME PARK MADNESS! (Details are classified. Let's just say it involved long lines, screaming children, overpriced snacks, and me questioning every life choice I've ever made. But, you know, in a fun way?)
- 9:00 PM: Collapsed back at the villa. Ate a bag of chips for dinner.
Day 5: Respite and Retail Therapy
- 9:00 AM: Coffee. Lots of coffee. I needed to recover from yesterday's theme park experience.
- 10:00 AM Shopping. I may or may not have bought a sequined flamingo and a ridiculous t-shirt. Don't judge. We went to a outlet mall.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. (Whatever was leftover in the fridge. I'm a foodie.)
- 2:00 PM: Pool time (again. I'm starting to think I live in a pool now.)
- 5:00 PM: Dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Delicious, but too much food. (I have no regrets.)
- 7:00 PM: Watched a cheesy movie. (Perfect ending to the day.)
Day 6: Unexpected Adventure!
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. (Pancakes. Because why not?)
- 10:00 AM: We went bowling. I am not a bowler. I spent most of the time laughing at my own (lack of) skills.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. (More burgers, but I regret nothing!)
- 2:00 PM: Went back to lazy river. My happy place.
- 6:00 PM Ate dinner at the hotel.
- 7:30 PM Took a moment to remember everything.
Day 7: Departure (and Post-Vacation Depression)
- 8:00 AM: Packing. The bane of my existence.
- 9:00 AM: Last breakfast. (I'm going to miss that buffet…)
- 10:00 AM: Checkout. (Seriously, where did the week go?)
- 11:00 AM: Headed to the airport.
- 1:00 PM: Flight.
- 3:00 PM: Home.
- 3:30 PM: Already planning my next trip back to Orange Lake. Because despite the chaos, the sunburn, and the near-death experiences with alligators, it was freaking amazing.
- 3:35 PM: Post vacation blues.
And there you have it. My messy, honest, and utterly imperfect week at Orange Lake Resort. It wasn't perfect, and it definitely wasn't pretty. But it was mine. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I need a vacation from my vacation.
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So, what even *is* this... thing you're making me read?
Ugh, right? It's supposed to be an FAQ, all structured and tidy. But let's be real, my brain doesn't *do* tidy. Think of it as a conversational tumbleweed rolling through the dusty plains of information. Or maybe a disorganized closet – you *know* there's good stuff in there, you just gotta dig. Basically, I'm supposed to be answering your questions about... well, *something*... but honestly, I might just end up narrating my entire life. We'll see where the wind blows.
Okay, okay, fine. But what *specifically* is this "something" related to? Seriously, I need a clue.
Alright, alright, I'll give you a sliver of the truth. Let's just say it's about... experiences. Big ones, small ones… the kind that stick with you like gum to a shoe. The silly things you've *secretly* reveled in. The moments you never want to repeat. The heartbreaks, the triumphs, the things that make you question everything and then order a pizza because, well, pizza. Look, I'm not promising rainbows and unicorns. Maybe more like rain clouds and questionable decisions. Sound alright?
Are you going to be, you know, *useful* at all? Like, will I actually learn something?
Useful? Hmm. Let's reframe that. Will you be entertained? Possibly. Will you feel less alone in your chaotic existence? Maybe. Will you walk away with a new perspective? Perhaps. Will you learn the best way to scramble an egg? Probably not. So, “useful” is a strong word. Think of it more like a friend sharing stories at the bar. Some stories might be helpful. Most will just be...stories. And honestly, sometimes the best value you get from a bar is just a nice, cold beer to soothe your nerves.
What's so special about *your* experiences, anyway? Why should I care?
Good question! This is the part where I'm supposed to brag, right? "Oh, I've climbed Mount Everest and won a Nobel Prize!" But no. I'm just... me. Which, honestly, is pretty amazing in itself. I'm a master of the mundane. A champion of the awkward. I've tripped over air more times than I care to admit. I once burned water. Yes, you read that right. Burned. Water. So, why should you care? Because I think my brand of messed-up-ness is pretty relatable. We're all a bit of a mess, aren’t we? And sometimes, just knowing someone else went through something similar, something equally embarrassing or wonderfully weird, gives you a little comfort, you know? Besides, misery loves company, and I've got plenty of it.
Okay, I’m intrigued (maybe). Spill. What's the *one* memory, the one that jumps out at you when someone says "...experiences"?
Alright, alright, I'll bite. This one… this one’s a doozy. Picture it: I was, oh, about 16, awkward, pimply, and deeply in love with a girl named Sarah. (Every story worth its salt needs a Sarah.) We went to the local county fair. The Ferris wheel was calling my name, a siren song of potential romance, and I was ready to be a chivalrous teenage hero. I got us tickets. We got in line. It was going *swimmingly*. I even mustered the courage to hold her hand while we waited!
Then… disaster struck.
We were at the very top, the very *peak* of romance, suspended high above the screaming masses and the smell of funnel cake. I leaned in for a kiss… and completely whiffed it. I mean, full-on, lips-to-cheek, awkward, *almost*-missed-her-hair whiff. And then, panic set in. My stomach lurched. I felt... woozy. And then... *splat*.
Yep. Right there, at the top of the Ferris wheel, I threw up. Vomit cascaded down, not just onto my shirt, but, and this is the most mortifying part, landing directly on Sarah’s new, perfectly clean, bright white Converse sneakers. The look on her face… it's burned into my brain. A mixture of disgust, disbelief, and a hint of amusement. I wanted to vanish into the cotton candy.
The rest of the ride was a slow, agonizing descent. I could barely look at her. She, bless her heart, tried to be cool about it. Offered me a wet wipe. (And I swear, the smell of that wet wipe will forever be associated with the smell of vomit and the distinct humiliation of my teen years.) The rest of the fair was a blur of hurried apologies and mortified silence. We didn’t speak for a week, and the date was officially over. Sarah and I? Never really spoke seriously again. *Shudders*.
Wait… Seriously? The Ferris wheel? Is *that* the defining moment?
Look, a lot of memories are just… *there*. You know? They're floating around, forgotten in the attic of the mind. But that Ferris wheel? That's the moment when the world shifted on its axis. It's the *perfect* example of how life can flip on you. One minute, you're soaring. The next, you're... well, you're cleaning up your mess (literally). It's a metaphor, really. For how we build these towering dreams, and sometimes, they come crashing down, covered in cotton candy and regret.
And honestly, I can almost feel the cold metallic of that Ferris wheel seat even now. Makes my stomach churn a little. Makes me wonder what happened with the pizza I order earlier.
Did anything good *ever* happen? Not just vomit and humiliation?
Oh, *plenty* of good stuff. It's just…drama sells, doesn't it? (Don't judge me!). Okay, look, there were those little things. The *feeling*, the pure, unadulterated feeling of accomplishment. The taste of hot chocolate on a winter day, right after coming in from the snow. The satisfaction of a really good pun. The quiet comfort of a perfectly worn-in chair. Those moments? The little things that add up, make the messy things (the Ferris wheel of life) a little more bearable. And sometimes, even Sarah's eyes lit up when she saw my cheesy smile.
Alright, alright. Last question. What's the takeaway? What am I supposed to get out of all this?
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Holiday Inn Club Vacations At Orange Lake Resort By IHG Orlando (FL) United States
Holiday Inn Club Vacations At Orange Lake Resort By IHG Orlando (FL) United States
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